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Letter to the editor 7/4/19

Black Creek a viable source to recharge Lake Brooklyn


Posted

As a member of this community for the last 34 years I have watched our lake levels rise and fall. Although most of this has been attributed to drought cycles by many, I want to reemphasize the importance of new water to our aquifer recharge system.

Statistically the population of Florida sees a net gain of 911 people a day, accord to Florida Trend magazine, and that takes death rates, births, immigration, emigration and relocation into account. To put that in perspective that is just shy of a new city of Tampa , or 332,515 people, that will need a new straw to that aquifer landing somewhere within the state boarders. That kind of growth will place additional strain on an already strained fresh water supply. This growth trend is estimated to continue at these rates through 2035.

Conservation efforts help but are not enough. Reuse water supplies help but are not enough. Water harvesting methods help but are not enough.

New recharge to Lake Brooklyn is not a choice to sustain our aquifer and our ever-growing population. Without a new water supply to Lake Brooklyn, other than our fluctuating rain fall, our aquifer will deplete at a higher rate with the higher demand created by growth.

Although we may experience a change in water color, the quality of this Black Creek water is far superior to the quality of the water that was left in Brooklyn during this last dry period – which, by the way – continued to seep in to our aquifer for re-charge.

I for one will support this project with all I have to offer and encourage as many others to do the same.

Scott Slater

Keystone Heights